Maruki has no idea what passes over his expression. What sound gets bitten back as it rips from his throat. It's a searing pain, whip-strong right across the rawest wounds of his heart.
Akechi was the first person in Somnius to say her name. Maruki will never forget how that felt – to hear her conjured outside of his own head, by someone else, with a simply stated kindness. She would be proud. It circles in his head constantly. She would be proud of you and what you've accomplished, but not for the reasons you think.
Hearing her name now–
It's tightly coiled, expertly pinpointed and unleashed. Blistering, sharpened, vile. Akechi isn't invoking her for any reason other than to do harm.
Maruki is governed by his emotions just as much as he is by a scientist's skepticism and reason. He is a sensitive man, desperate for understanding, for love. Heart and soul wide open for the pain of others to pile on top of his own until it's buried down deep. Until it gets ripped up like this, by someone who knows him too well, shoved down his throat until he chokes. The whole of him one aching wound.
And Akechi knows this. Knows he's sentimental, melancholy, emotional.
He probably expects Maruki to take the hit laying down. Roll over, retreat.
If so, he misunderstands those emotions that govern Maruki to a hilarious degree.
Maruki stands as well. The fucking bowl still in his hands. His jaw sets in place, eyes locked on Akechi's, uncompromising. ]
You're lashing out. Something I said upset you deeply, so you're taking it out on me. To what end, Akechi?
[ Something like pity rises up the back of his throat.
Powerful, beloved, not held back by anything– It's like Akechi's taken what he knows of Maruki's life and twisted it into some projected version of what he wishes he could have instead. Who is he really mad at, here? ]
If your goal is to push me away, you won't accomplish that with insults about my work and my life. Tell me what you really mean.
no subject
Maruki has no idea what passes over his expression. What sound gets bitten back as it rips from his throat. It's a searing pain, whip-strong right across the rawest wounds of his heart.
Akechi was the first person in Somnius to say her name. Maruki will never forget how that felt – to hear her conjured outside of his own head, by someone else, with a simply stated kindness. She would be proud. It circles in his head constantly. She would be proud of you and what you've accomplished, but not for the reasons you think.
Hearing her name now–
It's tightly coiled, expertly pinpointed and unleashed. Blistering, sharpened, vile. Akechi isn't invoking her for any reason other than to do harm.
Maruki is governed by his emotions just as much as he is by a scientist's skepticism and reason. He is a sensitive man, desperate for understanding, for love. Heart and soul wide open for the pain of others to pile on top of his own until it's buried down deep. Until it gets ripped up like this, by someone who knows him too well, shoved down his throat until he chokes. The whole of him one aching wound.
And Akechi knows this. Knows he's sentimental, melancholy, emotional.
He probably expects Maruki to take the hit laying down. Roll over, retreat.
If so, he misunderstands those emotions that govern Maruki to a hilarious degree.
Maruki stands as well. The fucking bowl still in his hands. His jaw sets in place, eyes locked on Akechi's, uncompromising. ]
You're lashing out. Something I said upset you deeply, so you're taking it out on me. To what end, Akechi?
[ Something like pity rises up the back of his throat.
Powerful, beloved, not held back by anything– It's like Akechi's taken what he knows of Maruki's life and twisted it into some projected version of what he wishes he could have instead. Who is he really mad at, here? ]
If your goal is to push me away, you won't accomplish that with insults about my work and my life. Tell me what you really mean.